Machine tool drive



Jan. 8, 1952 X 2,581,804

MACHINE TOOL DRIVE Filed Dec. 8, 1950 2 SHEETSSPEET l 5540 1 126A? l'snventor Gkagmw E MA X,

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(Ittomegs.

Jan. 8, 1952 G E, MARX 2,581,804

MACHINE TOOL DRIVE Filed Dec. 8, 1950 2 sm'rs-smw 2 3nventor 1 drive.

Patented Jan. 8, 1952 ec STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE TOOL DRIVE i v 1 Graham E. Marx, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The G. A. Gray Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, 21

corporation of Ohio Application December 8, 1950, Serial No. 199,821

f 4 Claims. (01. 74 472) V This invention relates to speed changing mechanisms for machine tool drives and concerns itself with the possibility-of obtaining additional "high speeds without sacrificing at the low speed end of the range. a

' 7 In an earlier patent,- No. 2,215,627, in the name "of John M. Walter, dated September 24, 1940, and assigned to the assignee of this application, there is disclosed in great detail a machine tool This drive comprised an electric motor capable of operation at two dilferent speeds which motor drove a first speed change transmission "capable of three diiferent speed settings. The output of the first speed change transmission constituted the drive of the second speed change '"transmissionwhich was also capable of setting ;for 'three different speed combinations. At the operators station two operating handles were provided. The first operating handle was operatively connected to a valve which valve was in a hydraulic system by means of which one of the three settings of the first transmission could beselected. The operatin handle was capable of occupying six positions so that in sequence it would set the three speeds of which the first transmission was capable, twice in succession. Associated with the operating handle for the first transmission was a mechanism by means of which "aswitch was thrown substantially at the mid point of the range of movement of the operating lian'dle' to cause the speed of the motor to be doubled. In this way as the operating handle was moved through its six positions, three speed combin'ations were obtained with a first motor speed 7 and then the same three speed transmission combinations with a different motor speed.

A second operating handle was provided for -actuating the second speed change transmission, and this lever was capable of threepositions in which it would select a low, an intermediate and a high speed for the second speed transmission.

In'this way a combination of eighteen different speeds was obtained with a motor operating at one or another of two speeds with one operating lever occupying one of six possible positions and the second operating lever occupying one of three different positions. 1

' For a detailed description of the mechanism --outlined above reference is made to said earlier patent.

Withthe increase in cutting speeds encountered in modern machine tool practice it is often desirable to be able to have higher speeds than those of which said earlier device was capable. Such higher-speeds could ofcourse be achieved to sacrifice the present low speeds.

by providin higher speed change combinations or' higher motor speed; but any such change would result in a loss of some of the speeds at the low speed end of the range. Many operators desire the additional high speeds without wishing by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe an exemplary embodiment. Reference is made to the drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine tool head, more specifically a self contained unit milling head as used on planer type milling machines having my improved speed changing mechanism embodied therein.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the upper part'of the'head with the covers removed.

' Figure 3' is an enlarged detailed front elevation of the'speed indicating plate.

Figure 4 is a simplified wiring'diagram tied in with diagrammatic representations of the operating levers and speed transmissions involved.

Briefly, in the practice of my invention I provide a head similar to that disclosed in said earlierpatent, and I provide it with similar speed transmission devices and operating handles. Thus, the eighteen lower speeds of which the head is capable are the same as those disclosed in said earlier patent, and they are achieved in the same manner. I provide an additional three speeds at the highspeed end of the range by using, instead the present invention, a motor is indicated at M in Figure 4 and is shown diagrammatically as driving into a three speed transmission indicated at T1. The transmission T1 in turn drives into a second three speed transmission indicated at T2. The transmission T1 is hydraulically operated by means of a valve indicated at V to which hydraulic pressur is.;supplied through :a' line; i I! and from which-lines I 8, l2 and-i3-lead tothe speed changing device itself. Thus the valve V i can be set to one of three different positionsto" achieve one of three different speede-combinae.

tions which may be referred to as A, 'B, and 'C,

in the transmission device T1.

The valve V is operated by-an operating lever indicated in Figure 1 at M, This lever is capable of assuming one of six diii erentpos-itions,

lever 14 is mounted on a shaft i5 (Figure 4) which through a bevel gear system indicated generally at it drives a shaft 1'! connected to the valve V. The 'conne'ctionis suchiithat the lever 1 ii: inmoving through its entire range from one end to theotherrotatestthe'valveVctwice so as to admit hydraulic fluid successivelytothe lines H, i2, i3 andthen:again,.in-turn,;H,il2:;and i3, so as to achieve successively the speed :combinations,..A-, .B C, A, B, .C.

The motor isharranged to run normally. at speeds, which may be gay, 9.90 R...P.- The shaft 11 vcarriesacamiiiv havingzaliseiiix.oce cupyingv one-half of :its :extent. A roller. .28. rides on the .camsi 8 a and :actuates a .leveriZ-Lpivoted :at 2.2 andi'bias'edrin .anupward direction .in Figure .4

by a spring Theswitoh 232.113. actuated", by the lever 2i and, as will be isrclosediwhen theiroller Zflzis ridingron thealower portion of .the cam i8; and; is. openwhem the rollerfifirises .upon therise .l 9.

when the switclrlZ tis;open-.a. circuit-is establishedupon actuation of the starting :SWitGh indicatedat Start through .the tcontrolzrelayticfil Actuation of the control relay .CRI t a'otuateszthe normally open switohxfiifi, the mormally-aol'osed contact Qiiandthe normally closed contacts 2! and 28*..through the relay, 249. ,'I'i,ie.:relay, :is

the first. speed relay :causesfthe motor toioperate at. its first speeds-which, ;f.or:.-:example,. may be 900 R. P. M. V

.As the operatinglever: i 4.. is moyed: torzits second position. aspeed combination Bis. achieved in the transmission .T1 with .thelnotor ;sti1l;.rim ning at 900 R. P. M and:when .zth.e-;leyerrI4:

moved to; .its third position, :yet anqthen I speed combination 0 is achieved intheltlfansmission T1 with themotor still running-pat- 900.-R. However, when the lever-,l tis novedito itafonrth position, re-establishing the first .speedcombination A, the rollerz2ii has riddeniofiitheiirisel-e ofthe camiS-and has closed the switch .24; 'The closing of the switch. 24 establishes: the circuit to the control relay indicated at GRt-avhich causes the contact26 to open and thecontactizfia to close. The closing of the-contact ZBa- -eS'tablishes a circuit through the normally closed contact- 2919, the normally closedcontactfid; the nor ma'lly' closed contact 3 I to the relay 3-2 which is thesecond speed starting relayand causes-the motor to operate at its second-speed S which nay bedouble the first speed -or'l800v-R.. P.= M; Thus, the combination produces in the-"fourth position of the lever M a speed which is double that -pro duced in the first positionandsimilar-ly thespeed in the fifth position is doublethatin thesec- 0nd position and the speed in the six-th positidn is double that'in the third-position;-

clear, the swiitchzz l between;. -the lever 34 and the second transmission T2 -is purely mechanical and is indicated diagrammaiticallvinFigure 4. Thus, by a combination in the settings of the two levers l4 and M a total of eighteen difierent speeds can be sequence :Qfaspeedswiththe; cam. roller rm :0

obtained. Whenever the lever I4 is in one of the first three positions the motor is operating at 900 RJP; and whenever it is in one of its second three positions the motor is operating at 1800 Thenperating handlegM 1.is,,mounted;on,ashaf;t .35 toywhich isrkeyed valever 36.- Theleveriflfi connects Witha link by meansa f wh ehsmotion of the handle member 34 is transmittedto the; transmission T2. In accordance withgymy presentinventionlz associate; with the; lever b 61a switch 1 indicated at, 38 which is actuated the lever. z3fieinqits .lowermostposition which it..avi- 1l occupywwhen the handle member 3,4 is set .-.at

High. The handle-member tit-abuts against :a lever -;39 :and depressesthe plungenof the switch 3.8,, in-.:the -..high position.of thelever- 3,4, The switch 3.341s an enablingswitch to -permit; operation -.of.-' .the motor-at, its, third speed- 5, which may :beaIiBQOJR- P. M'. only hen the -handlezmemher 34 iszin its high,position. When. the handle member .is-gin its high position andthe switchfit i closed the :pushbutton 40. may e denressed .=1and...ii, at: the same time, the-,.handle:= member I his; to rthe, 1eft..of;;:.center, that-is, in; theseeonjd -t-he .rise 19 :and the switch 24 in closedmnsitio so that the 1 control relay. '3; has, been {.EtCIlIlZWQd-i then the contact 4! will bewclosed, andha circuitwill be established to ucontrol relay, 4 indicated at CH4". The -oper;ation of; the control j'relay. -CR4 will gcausen-the. normally closed switch 29 to open :and :the :normally openswitoh 29121 to close; es-

tablishing-1a; circuitrthrough; the-normally closed contacts-.42, 43 to. :the, third;spe,ed ,fitaltil'igjlfility :Mwhich-will producesactuationgof the .mntonat itSfliird'f SHBBduOf 1360.0. ,R. P. .A li ht 4.5,"iesin the; circuit with; the push button diLso t-hatawhen the motor ;is operating at its highestaspeed, when the handle member .MLiS to the left ofziits center-.andthe handle member; 34. -is;;in; the high .position. and the, push; button A0 chas, been fadepressed, the light :45 willrbeilluminated :to: warn the sOPEIatOI thEt' .he in r the extra: high speed This extra high .speed tzrangevtgivres There; is. .3 pf

range. three additional fhigheritspeeds.

- course, no point in operating 1 with'ithe moton in .its :third position with the handle membernld to the right offlcenter because the threesneeds which wouldithu's be produced would. :be eduplicates of other speeds alreadyprovidedirfon.

.It= will 'be understood .thatzin-Eigure 4 I-:.'have onlyish'ow-n ABhGxCOlTtl-idl circuit and that the rvarious relays and contacts are in themselves-zeol ventionalrand. thatv "holding; circuits .;hay,ei been iprovided-asfis: wellf known-1 in ;the::ar .t;

According== to :my present- .-invention ethe'rpush button lflzis" ofitranslucent material gandithedi'ght li a'membddi-edrtherein; so gthat :the'i'pushi itself is illuminated when the drive is in its extra high speed range.

It is believed that the further description of details of said earlier patent are unnecessary and that anyone familiar with its teachings will understand how to provide the additional speeds as taught herein.

It will be clear that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and I therefore do not intend to limit myself otherwise than as set forth in the claims which follow.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine tool speed change device, a speed control device at a single location, a plural speed drive, two separate speed change devices, one driving into the other, and each arranged to provide three difieent speeds, said speed control device having means for operating the elements of the two separate speed change devices selectively, means for effecting selectively a change in speed of said plural speed drive associated with one of said means, enabling means arranged for actuation by the other of said means to permit said plural speed drive to operate at yet another speed, and means for closing a circuit to cause said plural speed drive to operate at said last mentioned speed.

2. In a machine tool speed change device, a driving means capable of operating at speeds s, S, a first speed change device driven thereby and capable of yielding selectively a speed combination A, B, C, a second speed change device driven by said first speed change device and capable of yielding selectively a speed combination X, Y, Z, operating means for said first speed change device settable to select successively the sequences A, B, C, A, B, C, means associated with said operating means for causing said driving means to operate at speed s during the first sequence A, B, C, and at speed S during the second sequence A, B, C, a second operating means for said second speed change device settable to select successively X, Y, Z, means actuated by said second operating means in position Z making possible the operation of said driving means at speed when said first operating means is set in the second sequence A, B, C, and separate actuating means for causing said driving means to operate at speed when said second operating means is in position Z, and said first operating means is set in said second sequence A, B, C.

3. In combination in a machine tool drive, a gear speed change transmission having a number of speed settings, a drive for the same including a plural speed motor, means for actuating said speed change transmission, an operating lever having a number of positions double that of the number of speed settings and operatively connected to said actuating means to provide said number of speed settings in sequence twice, said motor operating normally at a first speed, means associated with said operating lever for causing said motor to operate at a second speed, said last named means being operative upon movement of said lever across the midpoint of its range of movement, whereby to provide a difierent speed for each position of said lever, a second gear speed change transmission having a numher of speed settings, and arranged in tandem with said first named speed change transmission, a second lever having a number of positions equal in number to the number of speed settings of said second transmission and operative connections between said second lever and said second transmission to effect changes thereof, whereby a number of different speeds equal to the product of the number of positions of said first and second levers may be achieved by various settings of said two levers, an enabling switch arranged to be actuated by second lever in its highest speed position, and an electric circuit including said enabling switch, a push button switch and said. motor, arranged to cause said motor to operate at a third speed when said circuit is closed by actuation of said push button, whereby a number of additional speeds equal to the number of speed settings of said first transmission are obtained.

4. In combination in a machine tool drive, a gear speed change transmission having three speed settings, a drive for the same including a three speed motor, fluid operated means for actuating said speed change transmission, an operating lever having six positions and operatively connected to said fiuid operated means to provide said three speed settings in sequence twice, said motor normally operating at a first speed, means associated with said operating lever for causing said motor to operate at a second speed, operative upon movement of said lever from its third to its fourth position, whereby to provide six different speeds for the six positions of said lever, a second gear speed change transmission having three speed settings, and arranged in tandem with said first named speed change transmission, a second lever having three positions and operative connections between said second lever and said second transmission to effect changes thereof, whereby eighteen difierent speeds may be achieved by various settings of said two levers, an enabling switch arranged to be actuated by said second lever in its high speed position, and an electric circuit including said enabling switch and a push button switch and said motor arranged to cause said motor to operate at a third speed when said circuit is closed by actuation of said push button, whereby three additional high speeds are obtained.

GRAHAM E. MARX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 773,950 Loomis Nov. 1, 1904 1,588,004 Blood June 8, 1926 2,105,288 Linden et al Jan. 11, 1938 2,215,627 Walter Sept. 24, 1940 

